US3795784A — Balancing system for a rotating mass

Claim 1

Independent Claim 276 words

Apparatus to measure and correct unbalance in a test mass comprising: a. means to rotate the test mass; b. shaker means to provide reciprocating motion when activated; c. support means operatively mounted on said shaker means from movement therewith holding said test mass and said means to rotate said test mass; d. at least one beamed energy source rigidly mounted on said support means and aimed for its beam axis to intersect saId test mass, said beamed energy means having a beam of sufficient power to burn off a portion of said test mass when activated; e. a shaker power supply synchronized with said means to rotate; f. a phase shifter coupling said power supply to said shaker, said phase shifter operable to selectively shift the phase of the signal from said shaker power supply to said shaker in response to a control input; g. means adjustable to provide said control input; h. a power supply for activating said beamed energy means, said power supply being responsive to a triggering input; i. computing means providing a first output for a predetermined time to activate said shaker power supply, during which time said adjustable means may be adjusted to cause a phase shift which will result in the heaviest portion of said mass being positioned to intersect the axis of the laser beam in synchronism with a stroke of the shaker and thereafter to provide a second output in response to the setting of said adjusting means said second output being said triggering input to trigger said laser power supply, whereby said laser beam will burn off a portion of said test mass at its heaviest portion.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 276 words

Apparatus to measure and correct unbalance in a test mass comprising: a. means to rotate the test mass; b. shaker means to provide reciprocating motion when activated; c. support means operatively mounted on said shaker means from movement therewith holding said test mass and said means to rotate said test mass; d. at least one beamed energy source rigidly mounted on said support means and aimed for its beam axis to intersect saId test mass, said beamed energy means having a beam of sufficient power to burn off a portion of said test mass when activated; e. a shaker power supply synchronized with said means to rotate; f. a phase shifter coupling said power supply to said shaker, said phase shifter operable to selectively shift the phase of the signal from said shaker power supply to said shaker in response to a control input; g. means adjustable to provide said control input; h. a power supply for activating said beamed energy means, said power supply being responsive to a triggering input; i. computing means providing a first output for a predetermined time to activate said shaker power supply, during which time said adjustable means may be adjusted to cause a phase shift which will result in the heaviest portion of said mass being positioned to intersect the axis of the laser beam in synchronism with a stroke of the shaker and thereafter to provide a second output in response to the setting of said adjusting means said second output being said triggering input to trigger said laser power supply, whereby said laser beam will burn off a portion of said test mass at its heaviest portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes a platform on which said beamed energy means is mounted having means for holding the rotating test mass and a rotatable mount operatively connected between said platform and said shaker means for rigidly positioning said platform in a predetermined angular orientation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a sealable cover rigidly mounted on said platform enclosing and forming a test chamber for the test mass and having a window located such that said beamed energy means can be operatively aimed at the test mass therethrough and having a suitable port for introducing a gas into said chamber.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for providing a low density, low viscosity gas within said chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a safety system operatively disposed within said chamber secured to said platform and means coupled to said safety system for preventing said beam energy means from being fired at point on a test mass which has already received a burn.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 78 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said safety system includes a thin beam light source mounted within said chamber and aimed to reflect a beam of light off a point on the test mass corresponding to the position at which said beamed energy means is aimed, and a photo-sensitive element operatively mounted in said chamber to receive the reflected light for providing a signal to said said means to prevent firing indicative of the presence of a burn.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means mounted in said chamber for preventing contamination of the test mass by material removed by a burn.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said contamination-preventing means includes a wall having an irregular surface which is meltable by contact with the removed material disposed adjacent to the test mass.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said contamination-preventing means further includes jet means for directing a pressurized stream of gas at the point at which said beamed energy means is aimed to direct the material removed by a burn toward said wall.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the surface of said wall is made of styrofoam.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 197 words

In balancing apparatus for a rotating test mass wherein a test mass and a means to rotate the test mass are mounted upon a support means along with a laser, and including means for directing a beam from said laser when fired, along an axis to intersect a portion of said test mass, means for firing said laser in response to a test mass unbalance for burning off a portion of said test mass, and means for preventing burning of said test mass at the same spot more than once, said means for preventing burning, comprising; a. a thin beam light source mounted to said Support means and aimed at the intersection of the laser beam axis with the test mass; b. a photosensitive means mounted to said support means and disposed to intersect the reflected beam of said thin beam source to provide an output at a first level when said beam intersects a smooth unburned area on said mass and at a second level when said beam intersects a burned portion on said mass; and c. means responsive to the output of said photosensitive means at said second level to prevent said laser from firing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 197 words

In balancing apparatus for a rotating test mass wherein a test mass and a means to rotate the test mass are mounted upon a support means along with a laser, and including means for directing a beam from said laser when fired, along an axis to intersect a portion of said test mass, means for firing said laser in response to a test mass unbalance for burning off a portion of said test mass, and means for preventing burning of said test mass at the same spot more than once, said means for preventing burning, comprising; a. a thin beam light source mounted to said Support means and aimed at the intersection of the laser beam axis with the test mass; b. a photosensitive means mounted to said support means and disposed to intersect the reflected beam of said thin beam source to provide an output at a first level when said beam intersects a smooth unburned area on said mass and at a second level when said beam intersects a burned portion on said mass; and c. means responsive to the output of said photosensitive means at said second level to prevent said laser from firing.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention according to claim 11 wherein said means to prevent firing comprises to means to interrupt the power supplied to the laser by the laser power supply.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 183 words

In an apparatus wherein a rotary test mass and means to rotate the test mass are mounted on a support means along with a laser, and including means to direct a beam from said laser along an axis to intersect said test mass to burn off a portion of material, and means to collect the material burned off by the laser, said means for collecting, comprising: a. gas jet means mounted to said support means on one side of said test mass to direct a blast of gas at the intersection of the laser beam axis with the test mass substantially perpendicular to said axis to blow away material burned off by said laser beam; and b. collection means mounted to said support means on the other side of said test mass substantially perpendicular to and intersecting with the material blown away by the blast from said jet, said collection means comprising a material having an irregular surface which will melt at the temperature of said burned material and entrap said burned material will be blown to said collection means and trapped therein.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 183 words

In an apparatus wherein a rotary test mass and means to rotate the test mass are mounted on a support means along with a laser, and including means to direct a beam from said laser along an axis to intersect said test mass to burn off a portion of material, and means to collect the material burned off by the laser, said means for collecting, comprising: a. gas jet means mounted to said support means on one side of said test mass to direct a blast of gas at the intersection of the laser beam axis with the test mass substantially perpendicular to said axis to blow away material burned off by said laser beam; and b. collection means mounted to said support means on the other side of said test mass substantially perpendicular to and intersecting with the material blown away by the blast from said jet, said collection means comprising a material having an irregular surface which will melt at the temperature of said burned material and entrap said burned material will be blown to said collection means and trapped therein.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said collection means is made of styrofoam.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-03-04	1977-09-03	1978-03-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-03-04	1981-09-03	1982-03-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-03-04	1985-09-03	1986-03-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Balancing system for a rotating mass

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag